Portland Therapy Center
Katya Stark

Katya Stark (She/Her)

Licensed Professional Counselor

MS, NCC, LPC

I offer an engaged, dynamic approach to help clients break patterns and build fulfilling lives and relationships.

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

5034159218

Oregon Plaza Building

825 NE 20 Ave, Suite 250

Portland, 97232

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $155

Provides free initial consultation

Practicing Since: 2022

Languages: English, Русский

Services

  • Individual
  • Family
  • Relationship
  • Teen

Insurances Accepted

  • Kaiser

My Ideal Client

I work with individuals and couples—both monogamous and polyamorous—who are navigating relationships, emotional processing, and life transitions. My clients appreciate an active, engaged approach to therapy and are open to being challenged in a supportive environment. My clients seek self-awareness, meaningful growth, and deeper connections. They are ready to explore entrenched patterns, develop emotional resilience, and shift unhelpful relational dynamics.

My Approach to Helping

I am a deeply engaged, intuitive, and experiential therapist who thrives on curiosity, emotional depth, and meaningful transformation. My work is dynamic and immersive, fostering deep self-exploration and real-world application. My immersive and interactive approach guides clients toward deep insight and meaningful, lasting change. My clients appreciate an approach that is both structured and fluid—offering the safety of guidance while encouraging self-directed discovery. They seek therapy that is engaging, thought-provoking, and capable of initiating true change. I balance warmth with directness, creating a space where clients can confront deep-seated patterns, reframe limiting beliefs, and cultivate more fulfilling ways of thinking, feeling, and connecting. My therapeutic style is active and experiential. I incorporate somatic awareness, relational dynamics, and emotional processing to help clients recognize patterns and make lasting shifts.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I believe in transformation that arises from deep self-reflection, self-compassion, and the willingness to challenge internalized narratives and external limitations. My values are rooted in equity, autonomy, and emotional integrity, guiding me to create a space where clients feel seen, heard, and empowered. I am committed to anti-racist, anti-oppressive work and strive to dismantle systemic barriers that restrict self-expression and relational healing. I hold a deep respect for human complexity and the power of connection in fostering growth. I value intellectual curiosity, authenticity, and the courage to explore life beyond conventional norms. As a queer immigrant, I have experienced reinvention and resilience, shaping my ability to support those navigating identity, belonging, and personal evolution. My approach encourages exploration, challenges limiting beliefs, and fosters a life aligned with one’s deepest truths and aspirations.

Techniques I Use

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Relationship / Marriage Issues External link

    I help couples break recurring patterns, improve communication, and foster intimacy. My approach integrates Gestalt therapy, the Developmental Model of Couples Relationships, and Imago Relationship Therapy. Through experiential techniques, structured dialogue, and deep exploration of relational dynamics, I help partners understand each other beyond surface conflicts. I support couples in unpacking past influences, including attachment styles and family-of-origin patterns.

  • LGBTQ Issues External link

    As a queer-affirming therapist, I help partners navigate relational challenges, deepen trust, and foster meaningful connections, with a special focus on supporting queer, non-traditional partnerships and complex dynamics. I understand the unique pressures LGBTQIA+ folks face, including religious trauma, fear of rejection, minority stress, and the harmful effects of heteronormativity, cisnormativity, and internalized homophobia.

  • Depression External link

    I help clients living with depression feel safe, understood, and supported as we work together to ease symptoms and reconnect with meaning. I combine evidence-based tools, somatic–emotional imagery work, and a warm, direct approach to help you expand your ability to hold difficult feelings without losing your sense of self. My goal is to help you not only find relief now but also build lasting inner resources for a more connected and fulfilling life.

  • Anxiety External link

    My approach integrates somatic awareness and relational dynamics, allowing clients to recognize how anxiety manifests in their bodies and relationships. Using Gestalt techniques and mindfulness-based interventions, I guide clients in shifting from overthinking to embodied presence, fostering a sense of grounding and control. I challenge unhelpful thought patterns while providing practical tools for emotional regulation, helping clients regain confidence in their ability to navigate uncertainty.

  • Gender Identity External link

    In my work with gender identity, I provide an affirming, attuned space where clients can safely explore and express their authentic selves. I recognize the influence of culture, family, trauma, and societal norms, and I use relational and somatic approaches to support self-compassion, agency, and integration. My focus is on creating safety while honoring both the challenges and the joy of living authentically.

Contact Katya

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